QB Rankings Week 16 (updated Saturday)

Posted on December 21, 2018

Welcome to the Week 16 Quarterback Rankings!

You made it!It’s bowl week.You are playing for all the marbles, so let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Unless your quarterback is either Cam or Carson Wentz, you are probably in sound shape this week.I’ve done my best to get these ranks tight but will continue to grind at it and will update things on Saturday as always.

For those playing DFS this week, I’m liking Dak from a value perspective versus Tampa. Russell Wilson is also a strong consideration and he’s not hard to stack with both Lockett and Baldwin looking good right now and with both in good matchups.I’m also looking at Baker Mayfield and Mitch Trubisky as guys who could be good GPP plays.

I’m right there will you all this week.I’m playing for the title in four leagues and I’m super jacked to be in the finals of Scott Fish’sCapitalist PIGS league.It’s a 56-team format and I’m in the finals, along with three other squads.I’m also facing off against The Great Russell Clay in Mike Tagliere’sLIGHTS OUT dynasty league.It’s a 14-team slugfest and I want to win it!

Who’s with me?Let’s bring home some titles this week!

I’ll be back soon with the wide receivers, running backs and tight ends.I may get the receivers up tonight if I can finish them, but more likely they will be up early tomorrow with the backs and tight ends going up soon thereafter.

Lastly, you will notice that I’ve added the “DONATE” button at the top of the right hand column of the home page. For those who’ve benefitted from Rotobahn, a donation would be greatly appreciated. As I said back in August, we want to prove ourselves rather than sell you with a flashy pitch. I hope we have.

Week 16 Rankings:

QBRanksWk16V2-18

Wilson on the other side means that this game should be competitive all the way. It’s a good spot for Mahomes. I’d stack with Kelce unless you want to get contrarian.

2

Drew Brees

NO

6.500

PIT@NO 12/23/2018 04:25PM ET

Brees at home is always a bet I’ll make. You throw to beat the Steelers for the most part. Look for everybody to get involved and a big day from Michael Thomas. They are going to run tons of crossers and Brees will work the middle of the field and the screen game. He’ll grind his way to a good day.

3

Russell Wilson

SEA

6.100

KC@SEA 12/23/2018 08:20PM ET

Great matchup. Russ should smash. The only way this goes wrong is if Seattle actually shuts down KC, which would allow Carroll and Schottenheimer to indulge in their mutual run fetish.

4

Andrew Luck

IND

6.200

NYG@IND 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

He’s going to crush it and play very well, but there is some concern that it could be a blowout. The Giants struggle without OBJ, and it looks like he’ll be out again. Expect solid QB1 results, but four quarters of passing is probably too much to ask for.

5

Deshaun Watson

HOU

6.600

HOU@PHI 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

Love Watson here. He has weapons that the Eagles just can’t handle and he can buy time with his legs which mitigates the Eagles’ strengths.

6

Ben Roethlisberger

PIT

6.700

PIT@NO 12/23/2018 04:25PM ET

It should be a pass-heavy game as the Saints really shut the run game down. Antonio Brown is primed for a big day with JuJu banged up (groin) a bit.

7

Aaron Rodgers

GB

6.300

GB@NYJ 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

Rodgers is a solid play this week despite his dwindling array of weapons. He has what it takes to smoke the Jets. Could be a high-scoring game, with both offenses looking to have some fun. The Jets can score points in bunches so this game has some DFS intrigue.

8

Matt Ryan

ATL

6.100

ATL@CAR 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

This is a good spot for Ryan. They are down two backs—Devonta Freeman and now Ito Smith. Tevin Coleman should play a ton, and I would think they’ll pass a bit more than they would with two healthy backs. The matchup is good, but they need to grind it out because Carolina does well limiting big plays. I think they can, and I like Calvin Ridley as a sleeper here.

9

Baker Mayfield

CLE

6.100

CIN@CLE 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

I like Mayfield this week for a few reasons. First, he’s ripping it right now. Second, Cincy is a road apple—a dead team walking. Third, I see no reason why Cleveland would stop throwing until it’s the 4th quarter. They need to establish as much as they can offensively going into 2019.

10

Mitchell Trubisky

CHI

6.300

CHI@SF 12/23/2018 04:05PM ET

This is a solid spot for him. I see some risk that they may cut his runs down due to the shoulder, though he has had 9 rush attempts in the two games since his return. There are plenty of ways to get some big plays in this matchup. Tarik Cohen feels like a good bet to make a few.

11

Dak Prescott

DAL

5.700

TB@DAL 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

I like Dak more than I did last week. He’s got warts for sure, but this matchup should provide him with multiple ways to score fantasy points. Dallas should be able to move the football.

12

Kirk Cousins

MIN

6.000

MIN@DET 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

People will talk about this being a blowout, and it will be, but don’t think for a second that Minnesota will slow it down before they have an insurmountable lead. Building that lead should give Cousins a solid day and perhaps a big day. You can’t just run the Lions off the field these days. They will need Thielen and Diggs. Thielen is the stack play, by the numbers. His slot role keeps him away from Darius Slay.

13

Jared Goff

LAR

6.400

LAR@ARI 12/23/2018 04:05PM ET

This matchup should tilt a bit towards the ground game. That is good in some ways as Goff often works off the run well and it sets up big plays in the pass game. The Rams are one of the fastest teams in the league in terms of plays per game. On the other side, only Miami gets off fewer plays per game than the Cards do, and this is a matchup that says “run” for both teams. It’ll be interesting to see who controls the ball and perhaps then, the pace of play. I think Goff does well, but with six picks over the last two weeks, he’s no sure thing.

14

Philip Rivers

LAC

5.600

BAL@LAC 12/22/2018 08:20PM ET

Very tough matchup, but he’s absolutely viable if you need him. Just be reasonable as the Ravens play excellent defense across the board.

15

Tom Brady

NE

5.900

BUF@NE 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

Tough matchup. The Bills can play some legit defense. They are among the leaders versus the run and they are even better defending the pass. The Patriots need to spread the ball around with the quick passing game and move the chains. They need the win here. Losing Josh Gordon obviously hurts. This week is an excellent litmus test for Gronk. They need him. He’s the guy who can make big plays against the defense. This game has plenty of potential to be an ugly divisional deal. Brady is viable if you need him, but not a QB1 on my board.

16

Josh Allen

BUF

5.800

BUF@NE 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

He’s a viable play but who the hell knows how the Patriots might try to trip him up. I would not want my team’s fate resting on a rookie QB going up against Belichick. Call me crazy. I mean, I’ll do it, but I’d rather have a safer option. What Allen DOES give you, is a big ceiling. If you are a huge underdog, he could be a way to try and go for it.

17

Lamar Jackson

BAL

5.500

BAL@LAC 12/22/2018 08:20PM ET

Tough matchup but his game is viable in most any matchup.

18

Jameis Winston

TB

5.500

TB@DAL 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

Tough matchup for the second straight week, but he does get D-Jax back, which is good for him.

19

Case Keenum

DEN

5.300

DEN@OAK 12/24/2018 08:15PM ET

You have to like the matchup, but not much else.

20

Derek Carr

OAK

4.900

DEN@OAK 12/24/2018 08:15PM ET

He’s a viable option if you are in a Wentz or Cam jam.

21

Sam Darnold

NYJ

4.900

GB@NYJ 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

He’s got some upside here for sure, but he’s been too erratic to trust with so few weapons around him. If you are bold enough to try him in a GPP, the stacking piece is Robby Anderson—hands down.

22

Nick Foles

PHI

4.700

HOU@PHI 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

He’s playable as you throw to beat the Texans, BUT unless the pass protections hold up, he’s going to get knocked around.

23

Matthew Stafford

DET

4.900

MIN@DET 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

Has a sore back but the real issue is that he misses Kerryon Johnson, Golden Tate and Marvin Jones. Play him if you need to, but he’s fighting with one hand in a tough as heck matchup.

24

Eli Manning

NYG

4.800

NYG@IND 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

No OBJ and no pass protection. Nope. None for me.

25

Ryan Tannehill

MIA

4.600

JAX@MIA 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

Nooooo!

26

Taylor Heinicke

CAR

4.000

ATL@CAR 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

He can run but he’s tiny

27

Marcus Mariota

TEN

5.500

WAS@TEN 12/22/2018 04:30PM ET

He’s not playable outside of desperate situations.

28

Josh Johnson

WAS

5.100

WAS@TEN 12/22/2018 04:30PM ET

He gives you some foot-points, but it’ll be tough going in most other departments versus the Titans, who are playing well.

29

Nick Mullens

SF

4.700

CHI@SF 12/23/2018 04:05PM ET

Tough matchup, obviously.

30

Jeff Driskel

CIN

4.600

CIN@CLE 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

No weapons left with Boyd dinged up.

31

Cody Kessler

JAX

4.600

JAX@MIA 12/23/2018 01:00PM ET

Slow pace and very little in terms of big play ability plus a run-heavy approach.